Memorial Day Weekend signals the full-blown launch of the season at two venues that add a splash of music to recreation on the water — River Road Ice House on the Guadalupe River near Gruene and the House Pasture Restaurant in Concan on the Frio River.

River Road will host three days of top Texas Music acts, beginning Friday with Rob Baird, who will bring new songs from his sophomore album released this week, “I Swear It's the Truth.” The Slow Rollin' Lows will open.

Saturday, Roger Creager will pack new tunes, too, from his latest CD, “Surrender,” including the No. 1 Texas single “Turn It Up.” Folk Family Revival will open.

Sunday, it's Pat Green and Jason Boland & The Stragglers. Green also is touring in support of a new album saluting his favorite songwriters, “Songs We Wish We'd Written II.”

Meanwhile at the House Pasture Restaurant, Texas musical ambassador to the world Gary P. Nunn will take the stage Saturday, followed by San Antonio's genre-bending quintet Emory Quinn Sunday.

Nunn also will be at Gruene Hall on Sunday, with Aaron Einhouse opening at 8 p.m. The Hot Texas Swing Band (featuring former members of George Strait's Ace in the Hole Band) and Ro-tel and the Hot Tomatoes will play at Gruene Hall at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Quick picks

Gloriana, which won the Academy of Country Music's award for top new vocal group in 2010 in the wake of the No. 2 hit single “Wild at Heart,” will be at Blue Bonnet Palace on Friday. The group will likely debut fresh songs from its upcoming sophomore CD, “A Thousand Miles Left Behind,” including the current single “Wanna Take You Home.”

Bob Schneider, who plays an eclectic mix of rock and blues with smart lyrics, will be at Sam's Burger Joint Thursday night with Miles Zuniga from Fastball.

At 8 p.m. Sunday, he'll bring his country-fried hillbilly show, Bob Schneider's Texas Bluegrass Massacre, to Luckenbach. blacktopGYPSY will open. The Gourds and Lincoln Durham will play at 1 p.m.

Billy Mata & The Texas Tradition and Little Texas will headline the entertainment at the 25th annual Crawfish Festival Friday-Sunday in Fredericksburg. Mata will present western swing and two steppers at 8 p.m. Friday.

Little Texas, the 1990s hit makers with songs such as “God Blessed Texas” and “Kick a Little,” will play at 9:30 p.m. Saturday. Check it out at www.tex-fest.com.

Luckenbach will celebrate its 160th birthday Saturday with country singer/songwriter Jamie Richards at 1 p.m. followed by a vintage baseball game at 5. Jason Eady, who blends country, blues and gospel, will take the stage at 9 p.m. followed by country rockers Micky and The Motorcars.